Our last stop in Kentucky was the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. RTIP alum Elise Jackson led the tour of the facility. Students learned how Hagyard is a crucial part of the Keeneland Yearling Sale as many of the yearlings offered during the sale have pre-sale work done by the institute’s vets. We toured the facility and saw the surgical center and the hyperbaric chamber where equine patients receive treatments utilizing increased atmospheric pressure and 100% oxygen. We also met the institute’s blood donor geldings, an integral part of the Institute.
A view from recent grad Elise Jackson
When I graduated from the Race Track Industry Program in 2017, I wanted to keep learning. I completed the business path with the Program and I wanted to learn more about where our “product” comes from. I started my journey with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as an ambulatory assistant for a field veterinarian for a breeding season. It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed it so much I did a second one the following year with a different veterinarian. I wanted to learn more and became a radiology technician for a fall sales season, between breeding seasons. This gave me a rather unique view of the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sales and I made some awesome connections with our veterinarians and their clients.
Part of my job here at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is getting to show the public an insider’s view of one of the oldest and largest equine hospitals in the world, with a five-generation legacy of Hagyard family veterinarians. Situated right in the heart of horse country, this clinic is home to over 60 veterinarians, roughly 200 staff members, and we see thousands of patients per year. I love that we’re able to bring guests right through the Davidson Surgery and McGee Medicine centers, provide meet-and-greets with our blood donor horses, and step inside a hyperbaric chamber. We make equine healthcare accessible to the public.
I started as the tour experience and event coordinator for the practice in June of 2019. I’ve had a great opportunity to pull my knowledge learned in the classroom and through experiences with the clinic to educate seasoned railbirds, casual fans, and newcomers on what it takes to build a racehorse and how much dedication goes into every athlete. — Elise Jackson